FunTechBlog

Why Coding is Important for Kids: 7 Reasons All Parents Should Know

From smart cars that drive themselves to augmented reality and advanced computer algorithms serving personalised content, we live in a digital fuelled era. What is fresh news today will be lost in the ether tomorrow.

Due to living in an increasingly digitalized world, computer coding is important for kids for the future.. These transferrable skills enable kids to learn relevant and competitive skills whilst developing a problem-solving mindset from an early age.

Technology awaits invention and this is why at FunTech we offer computer coding courses and holiday camps for children aged between 7 to 16 years.

We aim to create engaging and enriching learning experiences that empower the next generation of computer coders and makers of the future.

You can browse through all our current tech summer camps.

When is right time to teach kids technology?

Quite often, our kids are only exposed to the end-user part of technology. Most watch YouTube, play video games, play on their smart phones and download music from Alexa, but what if we could teach our children to create new technology that will catapult them into digital old age with ease?

Learning to code is just like teaching a child a new language.

If you start introducing complex skills, such as computer coding, to kids whilst they are young, they’ll consume it quickly, utilise it flexibly and continue to foster it for decades to come.

Why coding is important and the benefits for kids

When once it was a skill that only the highly technical could accomplish, today it is a competency that can be learnt by all and brings with it a wealth of personal and academic benefits.

1: Confidence building

“Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again? Most of us don’t know the first thing about what makes our laptops, smartphone or video games tick. But by giving our children a technological based education we can give them the confidence to head out into the workplace feeling well equipped.

Simply by learning the basics of coding can fundamentally change the way in which our children interact with technology. Coding empowers children to not only consume digital media and technology, but to create it.

2: Logical rationalisation

Most kids, when equipped with the knowledge and know-how, have the abilities to master computer coding.

Computer coding involves using the more rational (left-hand) side of your brain, which is used for linear thinking, sequencing and applying logic to most situations. Children, however, predominantly use the right-hand side of their brain in order to solve problems through imagination, visualisation and intuition.

In order to programme a computer, you need to be able to relay a structured set of instructions and break down problems in a methodical way. Therefore, coding teaches and inspires children to view the world differently.

3: Exploring creativity

Although computer coding sounds technical, it does require creativity, and is a lot of fun.

If children know how to code, then they can develop apps, video games, websites and more, as they watch their coding come to life.

Many of the FunTech summer camps end with your child being able to bring their own game home that they have developed during the week.

4: Storytelling skills

Coding always has a set beginning, progressive middle and definitive end – just like telling a story. It has its own language where every letter in the alphabet has a special formula.

This thought process has been known to also help children in other aspects of their learning, such as creative writing and oral communication.

5: The art of persistence

By experimenting, children can foster their talents and learn through their mistakes.

Coding is complex, challenging and can be incredibly frustrating but it can also teach us from a young age, how to solve problems and look for solutions.

6: Career opportunities

Most jobs require you to be computer literate, whether it is for using a sale’s till or creating a corporate presentation.

But competition in the job market is high and in order to stand out from the crowd your child needs to possess skills over and above those of their fellow peers.

Computer jobs are growing at over twice the national average, and rather than just being cool, coding is now becoming a vital skillset.

Coding specialists and computer programmers are well-paid professions that are becoming increasingly sought after as the world continues to evolve based on a digital future.

7: Robots will rule the world

Today the world is changing faster than we can keep up. Websites, applications and tools are being built to make our lives simpler and perform the most mundane of tasks.

From switching on lights to answering the door and even driving our cars we communicate with machines on a daily basis.

Machines rely on code in order to perform and therefore in order to prepare our kids for a highly automated future, it is imperative that they understand the basics of code. Give it a few years, and coding will become as essential to our daily lives as human language is today.

Robotics is the future, and you can find out more about how this is set to transform the UK in our blog post about children learning robotics.

Putting computer coding back on the curriculum

Computing is a compulsory subject on the national curriculum, but it is often only taught in its most basic form.

This is mainly due to the lack of skilled staff who are simply unable to keep up with technological advancements or budgetary restraints placed on schools in terms of equipment.

Our kids have never known a world without digital devices in it. Surrounded by smart technology it makes sense that our children should be taught how to manipulate code alongside mandatory subjects such as English and Maths in their early years and not have to wait until it becomes an option to learn.

Did you know that a startling 56%* of UK schools do not even offer Computer Science as a GCSE subject; squandering the chance of preparing our children for an increasingly tech-centric job market?

FunTech – computer coding summer camps!

But how can we prepare our kids for the present and the future if our schools are currently failing to provide them with the necessary education?

At FunTech we offer coding and tech camps for kids and teens.

Through nurturing, engaging, and stimulating their technological interests we will prepare them for the digital age.

Our summer holiday camps are located all over the UK and cover everything from coding to robotics, game development and design. You can see all of our available locations that are currently taking bookings.

Little people often have big aspirations, and we want to empower kids by learning in a fun, hands on and challenging environment which shows them why coding is important in an engaging way.

Our forward-thinking curriculum is at the heart of our tech camp experience; and we use innovative digital platforms and practical projects to teach real tech skills.

Why choose FunTech?

School may be out for summer but at FunTech our mission is to create engaging, enriching and above all, exciting learning experiences for your child each day, every day.

We offer…

Your child the chance to gain coding and tech skills.

Courses the incorporate teamwork, logic and problem-solving skills.

A safe, encouraging and nurturing environment in which to learn.

A free online safety module for every course.

The latest high-tech equipment.

Small classes taught by subject specialist tutors who share a passion for technology.

Situated across 18 locations nationwide, FunTech offer both 5-day courses and residential camps to children between the ages of 7 to 16 years of age.

Making computer coding cool

Ofsted registered, FunTech have a team of passionate professionals who are constantly monitoring the latest developments in IT in order to ensure that your child is kept at the forefront of technology.

So, at the end of the summer your child will return to school with stories and memories of a great week away, a renewed confidence, gaggle of new friends and with a technical expertise that far exceeds their classmates.

Coding is important for kids, and it’s also cool. But it also brings many rewards to those who want to invest time in learning it. Why not check out some of our reviews from previous summer students and see for yourself just how enjoyable summer studying can be.